how are red LED's used for night vision?

Question

i just got a new head lamp and it has 3 modes
1 haligoen bulb
1 white led
2 red led

what do the red led's do? it says for night vision but i don't get how red led's help?

Answer 1

Red light doesn't affect your night vision. You can look right at it and your pupils do not react. White light makes your pupils shrink.



Not sure why, but it is a fact. You can use a red lens on your flashlight also and it won't affect your vision. Turn the light off and you can see well in the dark.



I used to use a red light when I hiked at night. Let's you see everything and not be night blind.

Answer 2

Have you ever been camping and had someone wearing a headlamp turn and look right at you? It's quite blinding, and it'll make you see spots for a few seconds afterward.



Also, if you're wearing a headlamp and you are reading a constellation map, then you shut off the headlamp and try to look up at the stars... you can't see anything - your eyes haven't adjusted to the loss of the bright white light.



Using the red LED setting on your new headlamp will eliminate that. It's less intrusive, but still allows enough light for you to see what you need to see, and it won't make you see spots!

Answer 3

it's true. the red lights don't effect your night vision. the military has been using this tactic for decades.